Professor David Osborn appointed new NHS Research Collaboration Lead

Aligning with the Grand Challenge of Mental Health & Wellbeing aim of becoming a beacon for improvements in mental health and wellbeing through transformative cross-disciplinary research, practice and partnerships, the role will harness the interdisciplinary expertise across UCL and build on collaborations.

Professor Osborn has worked across the interface between UCL and the NHS in North London for almost thirty years. His main research interests include improving the physical health of people with severe mental illness. He has led national NHS trials of complex interventions which harness UCL’s interdisciplinary strengths from across Faculties. He also brings long standing experience in NHS health data science. He has used national and local health data to explore inequalities in outcomes for people with mental health disorders, the mechanisms behind these and to test interventions to reduce inequalities. David’s research has had impact across the NHS and on policy.

David has hands-on experience of the NHS mental health system having worked for many years as a consultant in a crisis mental health team, training the next generation of mental health professionals along the way. He will take up post at the end of July 2024.

Professor Osborn said: 

“I am very excited to start this new NHS role within UCL's Grand Challenge of Mental Health & Wellbeing. Working with Professor Essi Viding and Professor Argyris Stringaris, my vision is to build on the flourishing research and teaching partnership between NHS providers and UCL. The GC brings an opportunity to accelerate interdisciplinary, collaborative research which can deliver discoveries to improve the mental health of the population as well as UCL's students and staff.

Professor Essi Viding and Professor Argyris Stringaris, Pro-Vice Provosts (Mental Health & Wellbeing) said:

“We are extremely delighted that Professor David Osborn is taking on this role, given his vast experience, both as an NHS clinician and as a research scientist working with NHS populations. Given Professor Osborn’s well-established connections with the local NHS trusts and his expertise in data science, we are confident that he will be able to facilitate the strengthening of existing partnership, as well as formation of new avenues for translational research collaborations between UCL and NHS.

If you’d like to learn more about UCL’s work with the NHS or want to collaborate with us, please email the team at grand-challenges@ucl.ac.uk.